Evacuation Order Lifted For High School In Allentown

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (CBS) – An evacuation order for an Allentown high school has been lifted, Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin announced at a news conference Friday night.

A little before 5 p.m., students and faculty were ordered Parkland High School following reports of a suspicious person inside the building.

“An individual described as profusely sweating and wearing a military-type flat jacket, the flack jacket was filled with some type of materials that could not be determined at that time,” said South Whitehall Police Chief Thomas Toth. “The individual walked up to the area of the flagpole, he appeared to salute the flagpole. Then it appeared he said some type of prayer. Then he ran off.”
Watch: Lehigh County DA Holds News Conference

Authorities say a teacher called to report the incident. Local and state police responded to the school and conducted a search. District Attorney Martin said at about 9 p.m., they were able to identify the individual in question.

Martin says that person, who is a student at the school, was located by phone. It turns out the student was exercising.

“It was just as innocent as that,” said Martin. In regards to the teacher who placed the call, Martin said, “She acted appropriately under the circumstances. She saw something that struck her as being suspicious and she did the correct thing, she alerted police.”

The police have concluded their investigation and have opened roadways and access to the school. If students need to pick up their vehicles, they can now do so.